Boro made two changes from the 4-1 win over Yeovil. With Jonathan Woodgate not quite fit and Rhys Williams collecting a knock on Australian duty Seb Hines came in for his first appearance of the season alongside Ben Gibson at the back.

Up front Lukas Jutkiewicz returned to lead the line with Kei Kamara switching to the right of a front three in place of Marvin Emnes.

Boro's first came on three minutes as Grant Leadbitter scrapped with two defenders for a loose ball on the edge of the box and, from on the floor, laid it back for Kamara but his snap-shot was charged down.

Then on minutes minutes alert Adomah cut out McCourt's pass then streaked down the left and crossed to the far side of the box where Jutkiewicz collected and cut inside his man then sent a low effort fizzing just wide of the far post.

Boro had a good spell of possession with some crips passing in the Barnsley half but the hosts but threatened on eight minutes as a quick throw on the right sent McCourt streaking forward but Gibson tracked him to the edge of the box then snaked out a foot from behind to hook the ball away.

Boro lamost broke through on 13 minutes as Leadbitter sent Adomah racing down the left. When when he crossed it the loose ball was scrambled away to the edge of the box for Leadbitter to control then back-heel toward Jutkiewicz in a dangerous position but the offside flag had already gone up.

As Boro pressed forward they were leaving gaps as the back and twice keeper Jason Steele had to come off his line to clear long balls forward for O'Grady.

Then on 18 minutes Barnsley almost broke through as O'Grady broke into the box on thr left and wriggled past Fraser Richardson to get to the by-line then he flashed a shot the flew past Steele at the near post then deflected off Gibson and evaded McCourt arriving at the far post.

And on 22 minutes Barnsley went close as Gibson put in a heavy challenge on Pederson and the ball rolled loose for over-lapping full-back Wiseman to carry forward unchallenged and scoop a 25 yard effort over.

Boro should have been ahead on 25 minutes as they spurned a golden chance to score.

Whitehead chipped a loose ball over the static defence for Jutkiewicz to dart through and find himself on the spot with just the keeper to beat and shaped to slot it either side then changed his mind and scooped it over the bar.

Then they were left stunned as Barnsley went straight down the other end to plunder the opener on 26 minutes.

A routine looking ball reached PADDY McCOURT on the edge of the box and he part tricked, part barged through a posse of defenders then stabbed a low angled shot inside the foot of the far post.

The goalscorer got a kick for his troubles and on 29 minutes limped off with O'Brien coming on.

Boro were quickly back on the attack but it was ragged and several crosses drifted away and twice piledrivers were charged down.

Boro went close on 40 minutes as they won a free-kick and when Leadbitter lofted it to the left of the box, a Kamara cushioned header sent it to the middle of the goal where Jutkiewicz nodded it straight at the keeper.

But again Barnsley went straight up the other end within a minute to score with a freak deflection as O'Brien drilled in a long long range effort that clipped CHRIS O'GRADY and flew in.

And the basement boys scored a third before the break as they won a penalty on 44 minutes.

As Pederson weaved into the box a disparing tackle by Gibson brought him down and when the ref pointed to the spot CHRIS O'GRADY slammed it home.

Deep in stoppage time Boro went close as Butterfield floated a free-kick toward the far post where Jutkiewicz climbed highest only to power a header over.

HALF-TIME: BARNSLEY 3 BORO 0

Boro were booed off at break and booed back out for the restart as they trooped past some angry travelling fans.

Tony Mowbray had put on Marvin Emnes and Richie Smallwood for Butterfield and Whitehead in a bid to salvage something.

There was some early industry with a couple of teasing runs from Emnes then on 49 minutes a Smallwood cross sailed to the far post for Kamara to head straight at the keeper.

But Barnsley had been fired up by the goals and looked sharp going forward to win a string of corners that were nervously scrambled away.

There was a scare on 54 minutes as a Boro corner sparked a scramble that could have led to a penalty for handball but then the loose ball was pumped upfield and Pederson raced clear but with two defenders closing he slotted a hopeful low effort from 35 yards.

Boro almost broke through on 56 minutes as Emnes wriggled down the left and crossed for Kamara to crack in a shot that came back off Cranie and the rebound whacked the striker full in the face.

Boro started to build up a head of steam and twice Kamara surged down the left to drill inviting low balls across the box but no one could reach them.

From one Boro fans were screaming for a penalty as Adomah was sent flying but the ref waved play on.

On 64 minutes Barnsley put on Cywka for Mellis.

Boro put on Mustapha Carayol for Jutkiewicz on 66 minutes.

Boro threatened on 67 minutes as Carayol weaved forward then slotted a neat diagonal ball into the box for Emnes to lay it out to the left for Friend but his cross sailed wide.

Then Emnes sent Carayol scything down the flank to cut into the box from the left but he carried it out of play before he could square to waiting team-mates.

Barnsley put on Scotland for Pederen on 76 minutes.

Boro won a corner on 78 minutes but it was scrambled away then after some trickery Emnes chipped it back but it was nervously cleared again.

This time the clearance was cut out by Carayol who darted forward and skipped past his marker then curled an angled effort that rattled the bar.

Then as the pressure built Emnes cut in from the left to send in a low angled drive that forced keeper Butland full length to save then when Adomah reached the rebound his effort was charged down.

Boro clawed one back on 82 minutes as Carayol crossed, Smallwood flicked it back in and agile ALBERT ADOMAH pulled off an acrobatic aerially volley.

And they were right back in it on 84 minutes as Richardson trundled down the right to send in a deep cross and ALBERT ADOMAH nipped in behind the defence to stoop and put in a downward header that bounced up and in.

On 88 minutes they won a free-kick 25 yards out but Adamoh's effort dipped just over.

Then in the final minute Boro threw everyone into the box and first a Leadbitter shot was charged down then when Smallwood whipped in a cross Friend headed wide.